Bears Beyond The Gate
A Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. Each week your hosts Pete, Lee and Miles will take a light-hearted look at developments from Ashton Gate and beyond.
Bears Beyond The Gate
Ep 233 - The crowd was flocking, the Gate was rocking and Saints were silenced - plus news from the 'NFL' style mixed zone, Sarries preview, Listener shout outs and a Goat/Anti Goat.
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In this week's episode Pete, Lee and Miles crack open a cheeky beer at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom and raise their glasses to the excellent win against Northampton Saints on Family Day.
It was a game of two halves, each one with its own compelling narrative, but yet another professional and disciplined performance from the pack created opportunities for the backs to shine.
LRZ got another brace, Rands executed a perfect dummy and snipe, and BV got knocked out by launching him 3ft onto a Saints knee just short of the speed of sound.
It was a game with everything, including 5 points to the Bears.
In other news Pete also managed to gain access to the new post-match NFL style mixed zone and had a nice chat with Jimmy Williams, Gabs Ibitoye, Joe Batley, Adge MacGinty and the big man himself. It certainly seems like a good new initiative.
The boys also speculate on the away trip to Saracens and wonder whether this is the year when the Stone-X hoodoo is broken. It's as good a time as any, and finally we finish with Listener shout outs, a Goat/Anti Goat and that's your slightly longer than planned episode done.
Up the Bears!
Running order:
00:00:00: Intros
00:01:20: First half review
00:17:45: Second half review
00:32:20: Player performances
00:43:10: Mixed zone interviews
00:58:10: Discussion about interviews
01:05:10: Sarries preview and predictions
01:13:54: Listener shout outs
01:20:28: Goat/Anti Goat
Introduction
SPEAKER_08This is George Gosken and you're listening to Bears Beyond the Gate. You're listening to Bears Beyond the Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. We're three friends who love the club, the game, and all things bears. Well, boys, we are in the Bristol Beer Factory tap room yet again. And we've just had our uh regular delivery of cans from our good friend Lewis.
SPEAKER_10And very aptly, Lee, what was he giving us? Well, he's given us a IPA called Tabletop, a brand new one from the factory. And I have to admit, it's top-notch again, fellas, isn't it? It is top notch.
SPEAKER_08And uh well, we haven't opened it yet, have we? Going down like milk at some point.
SPEAKER_02We've already had a pint of it, haven't we? Me and Mars have.
SPEAKER_08Uh no, I had something else.
SPEAKER_02And so that's the second can. Oh, cool. Yeah, lovely.
SPEAKER_08Well, as listeners usually um realise, at some point during the pod, they will hear the beautiful sound of a of gas escaping from a pressurised can. And also a ring pool or two. And a ring pool or two. Anyway, let's move on, boys. We're we're you can tell we've got a jaunty sort of uh sound to our voice because we're cocker hoop, aren't we? We're cook a hoop. And the reason we're copper hoop for anybody who's just randomly listening to this podcast has no idea what it's about, is because the Bristol Bears
First half chat
SPEAKER_08um have uh well beat the reigning champions, Northampton Saints, and it was uh 44-26, but which is in itself a fantastic result, but in the context of the fact that last season we got beaten 94-33 by them, and this had kind of framed the narrative of this week's game, and and Pat had talked about the whole pre-season, had been about it, and how he'd watched the game five times in a row and all this sort of stuff. So I think it's fair to say that that result has now not only been put to bed, but I think it's been put in a coffin and buried six six feet under and lined with aluminium or whatever it is, or lead.
SPEAKER_02Rightly so, yeah.
SPEAKER_08So job done. Job done. So it was it wasn't just about the uh the the Saturday, it was about the kind of bigger context. So yeah, boys are in a great result. It wasn't always uh going our way, it was a it was a classic game of rugby, I've got to say. Um, there was ebb and flow, there was mistakes, but there was some amazing attacking play, there was some solid defence, there was, you know, there was all sorts, weren't there? There was there was yellow cards, there was sadly a quite a look at the time looked quite a serious injury. Absolutely. Ashton Gate had 20,000 plus people there, the sun shining. I couldn't see. I mean, Prem Rugby must have been absolutely lovely. Licking their lips, mustn't they, at the performance of the weekend? Absolutely. So um, yeah, so it was uh it was as I said, it was a it was a great result. It now leaves us well, we're third in the table.
SPEAKER_10I was hoping we'd say we are top money, we are top but we uh unfortunately Gloucester did pip us, didn't they?
SPEAKER_08And then it did. But we've got ten points, which is two bonus points, which is more than we had by about Christmas last year in terms of bonus points, so we can't can't criticise too much.
SPEAKER_02Great result.
SPEAKER_08So, yeah, it was a good one. So we'll we'll we'll we'll talk through the game a little bit because I think it was uh it was an interesting game in the sense that it was it was definitely a game of two halves.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_08Um so we'll I think we'll go through it. So Miles, I'll come to you first all. You're you're kind of you know, I've given you a bit of an introduction there to the game, but what was your general sort of feeling about the day and the whole game yourself before we get into specifics?
SPEAKER_02I mean, uh the the the fantastic experience on the day. I mean, like you said, over 20,000 crowd, the sun was shining. Literally, it was laid on a pate, laid on a plate for Bristol Bears and Bristol Sport, and ultimately they delivered a three-course meal, I would have thought. Um, and and the it was brilliant. I mean, I thought the stadium atmosphere was great. I think we'll come on to maybe chat about the sort of the the the work-ons that they've done to sort of the fan engagement and the BRQs, etc. But I think a a big tick in in the Bristol uh Bears rugby experience yesterday. Um in fact a massive tick, I'd say.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I mean it was uh it was everything you want. We you know, we ran in six tries, exactly, and uh and we stopped them getting a losing bonus point as well. I mean, they got one bonus point, and they are the reigning champions, so uh so yeah, I mean it was a it was a great result. I mean first half was like any sort of first half, it's it's always going to be you know an interesting time because the teams are sort of figuring out where they are. But I mean I I would have I wrote down first half Lee, scrappy to a certain extent extent, but compelling.
SPEAKER_10What do you think? I think that's a fair assessment. I do not I really enjoyed that first half because like you say, it was two teams kind of kind of feeling their way into the game, but it was very compelling, and it was scrappy at times. I think that's a that is a great shout. I thought it was also very entertaining. I mean a neutral watching that would have loved it, and um and it was one of those where really you could you you didn't know the game was was I know it was only in the first half, but it could have gone rapidly differently, uh you know, on a bl in a blink of an eye, couldn't it? It was one of those games that could have turned, but we kept in it, and it was it was tight that first half.
SPEAKER_08Well, I mean it started off with um a bit of kind of village rugby though, didn't it? We had a a kick to the corner quite early on, we got a penalty, didn't we? And then Jimmy Williams kind of went for the right of the corner and it drifted dead a little bit, and I remember I was I I wasn't sat with you, Miles, because I was uh I was actually on a bit of a stagdoo hospitality. We were in the Prava Lounge, which doesn't it wasn't much more than just sit having a drink beforehand and sitting under the screen. But when that when that drifted wide, I did glance over to the dolmen and was thinking I could imagine Miles would be furious.
SPEAKER_10I think Miles had the kid, so were you in the in the wellness centre, Miles? Well that's where that's where the ball ended up, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02I think well I wasn't quite in the attio, I was a little bit above that grade, but uh yeah, where I was in the sunshine of the dolmen with uh with the kids and the friends.
SPEAKER_08But when I mean, but the you know, I was thinking that it's a typical for Bristol, isn't it? It's like a typical start. We we've got a good position, we've kicked it away, and then lo and behold, Finn Smith did exactly the same for them. He did, he didn't know and uh it was bizarre, and I mean I as I said, um I mean it was a frenetic we've ever seen that before.
SPEAKER_02No, I don't think I was I mean it was a frenetic first half, wasn't it? I mean it did end 15-14 to Bristol, but it could have gone either way, both you know, one of the two best attacking teams in the league. Um, but actually the defence was pretty good as well. I mean, I thought it was quite tight, however, we just came away, you know, Pippin them in the first half, and I absolutely loved it.
SPEAKER_10Um we should we should mention the forwards early, shouldn't we? Because exactly. I mean, to a man, they were absolute class all game, and I mean they kept us in it at times, but they also created that platform that we always know is vitally important to win a game. Um and I mean I know we're gonna get to you know talk about Star Men later on, but Pedro, what just beast hold it, just just hold that you're going a bit too early on that. I'm rubbing my legs in excitement.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, you've got to like you've got to be disciplined, like but yeah, I mean the point I you're right, it's a really good point because you know our forwards worked really hard in that first half to to get that dominance, and we talked about this last week with Sale. Is like if you get forward dominance, if you if you you know, if you get on top, you're winning your battles and you're and and so on, then you're giving yourself a chance. And I think um the one thing that I'm sure when Pat watched his fifth time he'd watched um that 94 shellacking, yeah, it was the speed of their breakdown, it was the speed of their phase with their ruck. And even I think you know what we clearly have to do or had to do with the work on in some was to to work to slow down Northampton State. If you slow down Northampton Saints, they just become like any other team who you know have got to work round with slow ball, and I think that's what we did so well. We did.
SPEAKER_10I mean, having said that though, their first try, I I wrote down it was a perfect example of precision position to create the space and the execution from Hendy. Oh, Hendy, I mean but it was made by Pollock, really. It was made by Pollock, but but also the pass from Hutchinson side. I mean, it was just qualitative.
SPEAKER_08So it wasn't, and that's what they can do. Yeah, yeah. And I think we know that, and I think we just have to, you know, that the you you're always going to assume Saints are gonna do something like that at some point, and um and I think you know, we that was you know, that was a slightly worrying moment. We'd already scored, don't we, Miles? We'd we'd score a big try.
SPEAKER_02But then two minutes later, uh an absolute sublime try. I mean, we Hendi is a quality operator, isn't he? And it's such a quick, you know, a quick winger.
SPEAKER_08So but it was a great little pickup from um Pollock. I mean, they showed it. Oh, looked at the replay yesterday, and it yeah, you say it was a little pop pass around the back, and he kind of scooped it with one hand. Um, although, as we all know, netballers can do that as well. But anyway, and uh and then passed it and and and I I gotta say, at that point, you might have thought, and you might have been right in thinking that's a bad omen because we didn't slow them down there. But I think the forwards worked so hard, and you know, we got into their their their 22, and we were you know, we were we were um you know working hard. I mean we we had a couple of line outs, didn't we? When we after we'd scored, we then got a line out, we went for a maul, it didn't work, then we got another penalty, and then we went to another, we went to the corner again, and then we went off the top. And it it I I seem to remember I have a vague memory of it of of it being popped out to B V and he sort of grabbing it above his head and then hitting it, and then we kind of knocked it on, and then we got another one and we went off the top again. And I at the time I was thinking, why aren't we just gonna maul it? Because it's already proved successful, proved successful, and also the rules are on our side. Um but you know, this is something that we don't know about, we're not party to game plans, and I think you know it keeps them on their toes, doesn't it? They may well have also expected us to maul it, and and if we had scored a try on it, we under the under the sticks. Because the thing about scoring more tries is you end up scoring them generally close close to the touchline, don't you?
SPEAKER_10And we all know, I mean, the the game is equally as much about mindset and and kind of you know bluff a lot of times.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah, it is, and that that's the that's the thing, isn't it? It's uh so yeah, I mean, but you know, a little bit worried that we were doing a little bit like we did at Sale, where we were huffing and puffing a little, not quite getting the red zone efficiency. That again is another way in which teams win, is that you know, making the most of the chances you get. But you know, we uh we kept going, and um you know, the per and you know, when we talk about the forwards working hard, I mean it was it wasn't just at the breakdown, it's not just slowing down, but it was also providing us with ball, and also our set piece was just solid. I mean, I looked at the stats for the whole game, and we were 100% line out, 100% scrum. So it was you've gotta you've gotta have that. So I mean there's a lot of elements to it, isn't it? They're not just no no, it's just the breakdown, it's the carries, it's the offloading, it's the making decisions. I just think our forwards have started this season, like they're making good decisions when to keep the ball in, when to offload it, and it's being led by Fitz the whole time.
SPEAKER_02Of course, and and you add to that the the amazing defence that they put in the first half. I mean, the phase defence um was just stopping Saints' attack, and they were just having to try probably something which they're not not used to having to do, are they? Chips over the tops and sort of and and punches inside. Um so I thought, you know, I think compared to we won't talk about that that defeat away, but the the defence yesterday was just absolutely phenomenal.
SPEAKER_08But then we did score, we did eventually score. Um well we didn't we did score, but before that we had a very good non-tri. Do you remember that? There was a few seasons ago when we scored lots of non-tries, I seem to remember, when we scored great tries, and then there was it was brought back for something knock-on or a forward pass, and this happened, and I was I was I was in the south stand, so I couldn't see at all, and it turned out that Harry had like just at the base of the right. I think Fitz had carried, we like we were marauding, it was like we were marauding, and then there was a tiny little Harry's little little hand just sort of rolled the ball forward, great little chip over from Adj, Tom Jordan under sticks, we're all cock a hoop, and then of course Tempo, to be fair, rightly so.
SPEAKER_02It was Rose. The TMO was loving his job. I could tell that yesterday.
SPEAKER_08It's David Rose, yeah. They he has a reputation of someone who quite likes to get involved in a sort of laconic, slightly relaxed way.
SPEAKER_10He puts two tea bags in his tea before the kickoff and he's uh got a nice brew on.
SPEAKER_08So after the non-tri, I mean we were you know, we I mean most fans are, but particularly Bristol fans, we're always quite attuned to the wasted opportunity because you just think we can't afford to waste opportunities. But pretty soon after that, we we then got back in there 22. Harry went blind, little pop, um, and then it popped out to uh to Lewis Reese Lammer, who who skinned Hendy on the outside and did the job that he does well, which is get the ball and run straight faster than his defender and score. And then he did his uh he then he did the pulse, he did the Pollock pulse to the to the Attio. Um what do you think about that then, Miles? Uh nothing wrong with it, as long as Bristol it are in it.
SPEAKER_02I mean yeah, yeah. It was quite funny, actually. It was quite funny, yeah. Why not? I mean, it's just a brilliant try. When you skin the opposition, I think that gives you Campte Blanche to uh you know put your little pulse, your little fingers on your crotted and uh and go for it, yeah. I loved it.
SPEAKER_08I thought it was uh it's I thought it was.
SPEAKER_02I didn't want to press too hard and then faint, of course, but so yeah, it was uh it was a nice little try there.
SPEAKER_08So then we're uh you know we've got ahead. We're we're uh and of course we're thinking, well, you know, this is not bad. It's been pretty you know, I was feeling confident. 15-7, 15-7. I was thinking well, I was thinking about my prediction last week, and I was saying I think uh it might be a bit closer than you boys think, you know. It's we may nullify each other, we may neuter each other, and and at that point I was thinking, yeah, boys, I like this. Let's keep it tight, let's not do anything mad in the second half.
SPEAKER_02You were thinking let's keep the score low.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, keep the score low to my prediction.
SPEAKER_10Exactly. Um but not that we have money on it, Mike.
SPEAKER_08No, that's true, but um we uh well we were holding on pretty well. I was thinking 15-7 would be a pretty good return. Probably I I think we put balance would have said we maybe could have scored at least one more try, I think, than that. So there was that niggle, and of course, just before half time, they were then pumping our line, we were defending really hard. And um poor old B V uh gets injured. Um someone someone um where is it? Someone actually te actually, yeah, Simon Hall, who is a friend of mine, he sent me a personal WhatsApp um because he and he loves the bears and he said that um BJVR redefined the term quote putting your head in the spokes. I think he launched himself at the Saints' knees from about three metres away. Top commitment that was. I mean it was, I mean it you know because when you're when you are defending your line, you you know, line speed, hitting them hard is is the way that they you stop them scoring.
SPEAKER_02But I mean, other than a willed beast back in his sort of homeland, that's probably the hardest thing he's hit for a couple of years, I must say.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, yeah, it looked a bad one, didn't it? And to be fair, full credit to Pollock and um I think it was Finn. No, it's Finn Smith. Uh in you know, waving the the medical team off game.
SPEAKER_08We told I think Finn Smith immediately told Tempo because stop the game and they were because Saints were like, you know, they were pushing for the line, and I mean that is quality from Smith. Um and there was quite a long delay. I mean it was quite it was actually in front of where I was sat and it was looked bad actually. It looked there was there was oxygen and yeah, there was a lot of medical stuff. And then when the when they went off, someone, our chief medic guy, which I can't remember his name, um, like someone sort of patted him on the back as a bit of a like, you know, when I'm mate, because it was obviously quite you know, it must be quite hard, you know, when you know these boys day in, day out, and you know that you're gonna have to deal with them injury like that. But luckily, I mean it it was it he was sat on the bench in the second half. Um so hard, isn't it? We can speculate later what if how long that might be he might be out, but it was good to see that he was uh he was smiling.
SPEAKER_10I mean at the time now I think you you you could see I think the players had they were obviously uh quite startled about what had happened.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, and then inevitably it was kind of inevitable that they'd score. I think they scored from a scrum, didn't they? So they had a scrum. That was bang on after Handy again, wasn't it? And is that because that was because um because they stopped the game and they were attacking, so they get a scrum, yeah, got the scrum and they scored again, handy again, and it almost seemed too easy. Yeah, but you it would you you can understand why the players might have been momentarily distracted. Yeah, I think so. So I was a bit disappointed. You know, what was it, Miles? You got the score. 15, 14, 14. That didn't quite seem like no, I agree. But having said that, they've been such a kind of it's been such a good first half with you know, good stuff, and I felt as though we were definitely matching them. We weren't you know, I knew that it was gonna be you know, we were gonna be there or thereabouts at the at the end of the game. Yeah. So I was kind of I was kind of disappointed but not disappointed at the same time. Um and you could argue that ultimately it was the first 20 minutes of the second half that really defined the rest of the game. Because uh we talked about that.
SPEAKER_10This is the period of time you call the third quarter.
SPEAKER_08Oh, well it is the third quarter, people do call it
Second half chat
SPEAKER_08Nick Mullins calls it a quarter. I I don't understand why. In fact, I quite like some listeners to kind of cut corroborate the fact that it's not the first 20 minutes is the first quarter, the second 20 is the second, the first twenty after half time is the third quarter, and then you have the final quarter.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but we don't stop after each quarter for some sort of uh Gatorade drinking time or a sing song. And the Beyonce shaking us.
SPEAKER_08Well, Miles, if only be careful what you wish for. When the when they take the Rugby World Cup to America, they'll be stuck in, are they? Yeah. Every quarter. So, Lee, what's your thoughts on that uh that first 20 minutes of the second half?
SPEAKER_10So the first thoughts were I'm gonna be putting on money next week on a try in the 42nd minute. Because there was a try in the 42nd minute in the cell game, it was a try in the 42nd minute this game, and thankfully it went to us. And um I can't even read read my own writing, but actually it was great. We're by the forwards again, wasn't it? And this time Tom Jordan went over, and I kind of I did feel like it was one of those games where the first score in the second half could be the first quarter, yeah. In the first quarter, or the third quarter of the game, yeah. Uh was vitally important and we got it. And then I feel I feel then it was kind of like almost the the the kind of cogs were just starting to turn in our favour. But we did have a big minute.
SPEAKER_08Because we I mean we ate. Yeah, but we because just to go pause that for a sec, because obviously what had happened at the start of the second, we had to shuffle the pack or the back, not the pack, the pack because obviously so Jordan went 13, Max Pepper came on in the wing, and Lewis Rizamit went to full back, which again slightly concerned me because we spent a lot of time saying we don't think it's a good position for him. Although, ironically, I thought he played really well, and I think it was a really good break from him from the backfield that led to that Jordan try, actually, because it was um yeah, it was because they kicked, they cleared, Reese Samic got in the backfield, he w he's he went through a gap, got we got into their onto their 22. Fitz then made a massive line break, and we were then quick ball, quick ball, quick ball, and then it was Poppter Jordan who reached and he kind of just touched it down with his hand. So, yeah, fair you know, fair play. Yeah, um so you were then so there we think, yeah, but you said there's a turning point.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, I mean I I wrote it down here, it was the 48th minute, and it was it was basically when Pollock breaks through the middle, and it was Alex Cause, I think we touches it down on the post, doesn't he? Um and obviously it was chalked off. And I think that was the turning point of the game for me, looking back now in hindsight. Yes, I think if if Saints score that inevitably seven points with the conversion right in front of the post, and it kind of felt like oh, this could be you know, and we always talk about fine margins, but we talk about them for a reason, and it's those little things that happen, and you think, oh, maybe this now this could be starting to the juggernaut's starting to go downhill for us in our favour.
SPEAKER_08Interestingly, it was it was for obstruction on Gabs Ogre, it was um slightly ironically, it was Curtis Langdon, the Western Supermare Hornets, yeah, he did, and uh so it's kind of you know I'm not sure there's much love lost between Bristol rugby clubs and Western Supermare Clubs, so it was it's kind of nice. And uh it looked I at the time I don't know, I thought it looked a little bit soft. Oh Grey was on the he did a little, I was just thinking, oh he went down quite quite easily, but then when you look at it, uh Langdon is right in front, he's way in front of the ball, yeah. And actually he is he turned it was definitely turned a little bit towards him, so it was an absolute cast iron good decision. And though you spotted well, when it went on the repo, we thought it was actually because Coles had dropped possibly he could have dropped it over the line as well, because Lewis Rezamet also did an amazing tackle to him and then kind of kept him sort of on top of him. Like he sort of lie Coles is lying on top of him. R Lewis Reezamet is like hugging him. I mean other contexts, you know, you'd be a bit worried about what's going on there, but um Yeah, so it was it was a turning point, I think, because then very quickly after that. Miles, what happened after that? Well little uh the little grasshopper.
SPEAKER_02Flea or fleece.
SPEAKER_08Well actually we stop and say it has been now. We had a few scientists uh contact the pod and say that actually it is the flea that can jump uh many times its body size. It is, and as someone pointed out, and it was Deb from K-Town. She's she's both uh a support and an amateur scientist. She said, I'm not sure Randall would be like like to be likened to a flea.
SPEAKER_10Likened to a flea.
SPEAKER_02No, but we wouldn't, you know, we weren't liken him to a flea likening abilities that a flea that you have the ability of his jump strength, and I think it was corroborated by the club in the week, wasn't it? That he's potentially the top one percent globally, yeah. In sort of strength, yeah, yeah, yeah. Globally in sort of jump strength. I know. Pretty impressive, very impressive. So like a flea is the strong flea.
SPEAKER_08What I'm thinking though is just does he really need that though, as a scrum after? Because most of the time you're going low rather than high, aren't you? And it it's like he's not a line out jumper, is he?
SPEAKER_07It's like if his jump strength doesn't even get as high as uh Joe Batley, you know, because it's all a bit relative, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02And the and the picture they put out was a bit like sort of like you know, the little sort of mini trampoline you could you have for your two-year-olds in the world. I think he was a tumor. I'm not I think they took that photo at air hop.
SPEAKER_08I mean, if if you've got big jump strength at air hop, then fair play to him. You know, I do think he I mean maybe he's he's looking at eyeing a career of trampolineing or roofing.
SPEAKER_07But it's a good point though, isn't it?
SPEAKER_08Like it's all very well saying he's got amazing jump, but it's like I'm not quite sure what in context position it does he need it that much. Yeah. I mean if you said he's got like the biggest, strongest forearms in the world that can like pass a ball at like the speed of light, then I'd say, yeah, that's pretty good.
SPEAKER_10Or size 15 trippers like uh mate he plays for series now.
SPEAKER_08Right exactly.
SPEAKER_02But anyhow, it was it was a lovely little and he nearly didn't make it, did he?
SPEAKER_08And there's a little there's an issue around that. We did talk about this off were you listening when we talked about it off the pod about what had happened if he hadn't have scored. Because who was on the outside of him when he did the dummy? He dummed to who, Miles? I I don't know. Sorry, I was Lee. Reese Sammit. He dummy to Reese Samut. So Reese Sammitt was I it was almost like it was we speculate that Reese Sammit could have potentially and I did look at it on the replay and see what Reese Samut's reaction was like when Harry scored, and it was a little bit muted. It was like uh because I think he was about to put his hands up. He was about to put his hands palms upwards in the cult. Why not? And he kind of moved the palms forward to a yeah like that. Because if Harry hadn't have scored, he would have had questions to answer. But I and I did say this to you boys, didn't I? That on comms they the stat was that he's now the third highest tri scorer behind David Lemmy and Harry Thacker Rands. So in some ways you can now understand it. Yeah, yeah, and it's it's it's uh maybe you just think Reese Sammitt, he's just got to keep him in his box a little bit, just to make him realise he's only the new boy on the block, isn't he? Randall's been here Randall was born at the club, wasn't he? You know, he's come out of swaddling clothes, yeah.
SPEAKER_10So I mean, but but then we're talking 12 minutes into the second half, and we've gone from 1514 to 2914, and then we've got a bit of a buffer, haven't we? And then you would hope we extend it ten minutes later. We do 61 minutes.
SPEAKER_08We do, and uh was that Reese Sammit, wasn't it? Yeah, because they were they were starting to go all Ronaldo, all Portuguese footballer. Pollock was throwing his arms up, you know. They were I I thought we've got them here, they they've lost it. They they've lost it, they realize that they've been done up front, they can't get quick ball, we are slowing them down. And I thought I thought then, I thought actually, uh we're gonna stroll this now, and we scored the third, wasn't it?
SPEAKER_10And then I I'm gonna mention there's a there was a good carry by Lovejoy Chawa Tawa. Yeah.
SPEAKER_08What did you notice his legs though? Were they greased up like last week?
SPEAKER_02I didn't I didn't notice actually. I I don't think he put so much oil on it. I don't think so, really. I think it was sunny, but I didn't get a glimpse of blindness or anything off his legs, no.
SPEAKER_10Might have been on the red diesel. But then, yeah, I mean it was a great carry, like you say, the forwards again and finished by the water.
SPEAKER_08And it was a nice it was one of those classic the wing, it was a bit like their one that Hendy scored in the first half. It's like you just pop it out and he's got enough pace and space, he's just that you no one's gonna stop him.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, and then and then the game's over, boys, isn't it?
SPEAKER_08The game's over 34-14. Except we were hoping that if Jimmy Williams had hit the conversion, it would have been 21 points ahead. Yeah, yeah. And to ask the team to score three converted tries and still not, you know, then have then would have to score again, and it and it it it hit the post. And I just remember at the time thinking, oh don't know about that. Don't know about that. Fine margins, fine margins, and of course, what happened?
SPEAKER_10They scored Mitchell scores, and it was Mitchell that made a difference, came on, and to be fair though, we talk about like unselfishness, Hendy, he could have probably taken that on on the outside himself and scored. That would have been his hat trick as well, and they're a team though, aren't they? Northampton. Oh, yeah, pretty much. And obviously, then Mitchell's underneath the post as well, yeah. So the conversion's guarantee, and all of a sudden we're we're back in the mix again, aren't we?
SPEAKER_08That's true. So, but you know, there was a moment, it was a fleeting moment where he scored again, and I'm thinking, but then I think we we we this is what's been so good in the first two weeks is that we've we've rallied, and we always talk about this momentum. You you you will lose it, you will have a there will be a purple patch, but the the measure of your team is how quickly you can get that back, and in sometimes in the past we haven't.
SPEAKER_02Were you worried? I mean, you know, 60 minutes Kenny on 67, they came on fire, weren't they? They were literally that's the typical Northampton. Yeah, but it was like I'm very worried, and I thought, right, we can't throw it away at this point.
SPEAKER_08Um but this is my point, is that I think in seasons gone past there have been times where we haven't been able to get that momentum, and you get that momentum back by working 15-20% harder, yeah, and you know, going harder, you know, even though you're getting tired, and I think that's just feels like the difference. We we've got that, we we've we're covering each other's, we're we're working hard when we have to, and we we you know that was a time where we and I've got a feeling I can't remember someone will read, but I've got a feeling that you know we we got a scrum penalty in that time and we got a turnover or something. It was just little things that then just slowed their momentum down, and then in the end, when we got into the kind of 70-minute 70s, we had a non-try again, didn't we? We had a similar one to it was Marmion this time. He's like, What Harry? If I want to be like how you know Harry's got Harry's got the uh number one spot, I need to do what Harry does to try to get there. So he knocked on in a ruck, and then poor old Max Pepper. Max Pepper couldn't didn't put the season in the room. And that was right in yeah, that was right in front of me. Yeah, and I think on comms they said the guy had the season in there. Yeah. I mean Pepper. I mean, is he gonna I mean Pepper and actually Kiramami and no defence them about the same size, aren't they? So you could think that they probably could have had words. I think so. Could have been a fair fight. Um so poor old Pepper, because then he that was his I don't know, has he scored for us?
SPEAKER_10I don't think he has.
SPEAKER_08I don't believe so. I'm not sure. And you know, he would have one of our listeners would tell us someone knows, I'm sure we could look it up, but I should have done that research before. But uh yeah, so it was a little bit of a shame because I thought that you know that would have been the thing. But then of course we did get a final try, a penalty try.
SPEAKER_10Which was even more gut in for Lewis Resumit, because that would be annoyable, it would have been his actor.
SPEAKER_08It seems a bit unfair, innit, that if you give a penalty try late in that situation, you should give it to him. I think so, yeah, because I mean no one else was going to score it, were they? Because he'd already like sometimes if it they give canoe tries when there's a you know there's a deliberate knock-on. Yeah. So the winger would have got it, but didn't actually have it in his hand. Whereas he had it and he did his, as I said last week, the chip and chase, which we hadn't seen, and we saw at least two or three chip and chases. It just seems a bit unfair because he did everything. Did it? I mean, were you all agreement that it was a definite yellow card?
SPEAKER_02I didn't think he was going to give it tempo. I suspected, because it went on for a long consultation with the TM, didn't it? And I wondered whether he said, Look, you can't predict the bounce of the ball. It's quite a long way out. Um I think he was the last man. Or he might and he could have and he may have dropped it or he may have bounced the wrong ways, but I was cock a hoop that he actually gave it. I think there was an infringement, no doubt. Um I think the card was right, yeah. Not that it mattered.
SPEAKER_10There was a lot of variables, in all fairness, because uh you know a bank's a rugby ball can go anywhere. Yeah, of course. But I mean the fact that it was Lewis Re Summit and not Gaston Cortez chasing the ball down, yeah, you know, probably had a bit of an influence on the on the decision. But then then we could relax, then couldn't we?
SPEAKER_02Because I mean because it was 80 minutes, yeah. Absolutely. But we would think you're right, but we were taking there was a lot of kick to touches, weren't there? I think we could have got an extra three points ahead, couldn't we? On two occasions. Yeah, and I was thinking I think a lot of crowd was saying just bloody.
SPEAKER_08No, but I just kick it. But you see, I I think we were so dominant in the line out that it was just it was killing time. It was like it because if you kick if you kick a penalty, they get possession back on the halfway. Now, if they do a little short chip, suddenly they get possession, suddenly, whereas if you're they would have had what one minute the two minutes to score two. But even if you lost possession on the line out, they've got a clear from their lines, you get it back again.
SPEAKER_10I I don't know, that's probably there's it's you're right, it's personally I thought it was better game management, but I do know where you're coming from, Mars, and yeah, there is a I no, I I get it too.
SPEAKER_08So, yeah, there we go. Then the the game is won, and uh, you know, the crowd have gone mental, culture mental. It's it's cops. Absolutely. So um we've we've kind of you know we've talked about players as we've gone on, but it's always nice to have a to just quickly talk about individuals because they're the ones that you know it's a team performance, but individuals contribute. So Miles, do you want to go? Shall I give you all boys a chance to to mention somebody?
SPEAKER_02Tell me who you who
Player performances
SPEAKER_02got the official man of the match.
SPEAKER_08It was Red Rubiolo, got it. Red Pedro Rubiolo. Um I think I will. You've got you've got I've given you the absolutely absolute beast.
SPEAKER_02I mean the the the fact that he just didn't just he defended well and he attacked well and literally was just on fire the whole game and was just absolutely dominant. I was like the flipping Mandalorian. Um you didn't put a foot wrong the entire game, um uh and it just shows really when he is fit and playing well and in the attacking ball, um, he's just an absolute class player.
SPEAKER_08But what is it, Lee? What is it he does that makes him better than say Alex Coles on the day, or better than their big Ed prowls? What does he do?
SPEAKER_10I think that he's just I mean, for me, he was he's just 100% focused on he hasn't got a lot of jobs to do, but he knows the jobs that he needs to do, and he does them absolutely to perfection. I mean, there was that hit that you pulled up earlier before we started recording, Pete.
SPEAKER_08I mean That was off in fact we scored that was off that was Harry's try because we had a penalty, we kicked for the post, we hit the post, it bounced down and he chased it up. He was the only one chasing it, and he and he took the and he pushed them right out, he pushed the um It was challenging BV, wasn't he? And then we got to do some of that, and then we it was Freeman, I think, and then he put him into into the in dead ball area, and then we we got a five meter scrum and scored eventually. So, yeah, I mean that that sort of thing. I mean that's I that's eye-catching, isn't it?
SPEAKER_10Yeah, I mean it is, and but it's also having the ability to be able to back that up as well. He knows what he needs to do, but he he just does it.
SPEAKER_08He carried a bit as well. I carried a bit more than I I'd expect him, really. But um, but yeah, he's he's also just he when they're you know it's this slowing down of teams like Northampton. So if if you're coming into a rut and he's able to to almost push there was a couple of times where Pollock got pushed back quite severely, and that's that's what you've got to do. That slows down the ball. Yeah, and yeah, I mean he stole the line out once, I think. There was uh I don't want him get too big for his boots though. I don't want to start seeing him try to a little chip and chase too early as well. I don't I do not want to see an offload from him for a while.
SPEAKER_10No, I think he's pretty grounded. I think he is. He knows he knows you know, I think so.
SPEAKER_02He's some some bit of Argentinian beef. I mean the best.
SPEAKER_10It was good to see him brought out after the match as well. I know he was man of the match, so he he would have come out for the you know for the the award. But for Barbara it was to get to whatever the it was this week to give him the medal gallagher and um Shirley, but it was nice to nice to see him come out and you know and call fair play and and speak. And um and also I think we should probably it's probably a good time to mention it now, but obviously this was you know in kind of memory of Jackie Boy as well. Of course. And it was obviously really kind of fitting, you know, end to a brilliant game. But seeing Chris Boyd like in tears at the beginning, that was you know, that was heartfelt, and you know, uh the boys, you know, did Jackie Boy proud.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, no, it was and apparently my mate who watched it on TNT said that they they showed the whole thing as well on TV. It wasn't like so they they they didn't cut it, they showed the whole thing as well, the whole minute um collapse. So yeah, it was because obviously Chris Boy was you know, he was he was there when Bristol were about to go on. You know, they go under, so he's he's the kind of where it all started to to get us back. So yeah, it's uh yeah, it was it was a very nice um uh a nice thing that was done. So you well you always you can pick a player.
SPEAKER_10I'm gonna pick a player. Um I mean it's so I mean we can we like all the forwards we can say brilliant, yeah. So I um I'm gonna pick someone who got injured and had to be stretchered off, but Yancey again.
SPEAKER_08I mean just Beavy, do we agree with your own?
SPEAKER_10Beavy not Beavy, Beavy. I just think that up to the point of uh him getting injured, he he just personified everything about the good defence that we were talking about. I just he's just a phenomenal player. And you know, the fact that I mean how he got injured was just being as brave as he is, you know, is just he's just such a brilliant team player. And um I mean to say he put his head on the line, he really did. Literally. Um and you know, hope spoke. I mean it looked awful at the time, but hopefully with him coming back out after the game, you know, in um hopefully it won't be too bad. He obviously we we'll go through a protocol now and we'll we'll miss him for a bit, but hopefully not not anything long to go.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah. Yeah, no, it's uh yeah. No, I think that's a good shout. Um if I was gonna pick someone, I would well, you see, I you know, I think obviously you've got to mention Lewis Re-Samet. It's like we said last week, is like you know, you'd be a bit disappointed if you didn't get mentioned because you scored a few tries. So so I I will mention him again. Yeah, and and just to kind of reiterate what we said last week was that you know it feels like he's actually almost a bit like a new signing again, and playing in the right position, that's where you want him, you want him on the wing, you want him direct. But I I thought he had a an all-round good game, yeah, and he made a bit of you know, he's physical. If he hasn't got much space, he's still physical in the carry. I thought he'd you know I mean I know Hint Hendy skinned him on both the tries, but I don't think that was Louis Three Samet's fault, and he did skin Hendy as well. So that's what happens when he was.
SPEAKER_02He was the last man and he nearly got to Hendy, and he's just like you know, he was just covering three men. So he wasn't.
SPEAKER_08I mean, sometimes you can criticize wingers because they bite in and don't trust their inside defence, and I just don't think he it was it was just one of those things. And like you say, that tackle on calls as well was brilliant, yeah.
SPEAKER_10He held him up over the line.
SPEAKER_08Exactly. So I you know, I think you know, we've I thought he had a great game. You know, I think he had a great game. And I and I said we we saw the I mentioned the chip and chase last week, and we saw the chip and chase, and he did a I think he hit a 50-22 as well at one point. He did, he did. Yeah, he did. It was a really good one. So I'm gonna raise my glass to Lewis Reesamit, and I think he's settled into the the Bears' way. I think he's settled into the team environment, and uh he seems I mean he seems like a decent bloke, quite fun, you know. So I I think he's probably comfortable now. I think so in his uh because last year he got injured, then he was going to Cardiff and commuting, wasn't he? I just think it you know, we sometimes do underestimate how quick how long it can take some players to kind of get with the programme. Trust the process. I think he's trust I think what Lewis is doing now is trusting the process. Yeah.
SPEAKER_10Also, I'm gonna mention someone else as well. Someone we've not mentioned at all yet, but it's so great to have Adj back. Yeah. I just I d like he just I know he's like a comfort blanket for me. I just feel so much better when he's in in the team and I just didn't play the 480. And um I think again he's pivotal to what we do.
SPEAKER_08A couple of others. I mean Harding, it's almost like we can't mention it because you just assume that everyone's gonna that he's had a good game, and again he did. Yeah, you know, two weeks he's now uh technically uh outplayed Tom Curry. Yeah, and he's out I wouldn't well I think he did outplay Henry Pollard, actually, if you think about it. Although you might say, well, that well, yeah, they were both playing eight, weren't they? Yeah, yeah. Now Polla had a good game as well, but I just think Fitz had a more complete game. So I think there's gonna be a lot of clamouring. Because there was on the the rugby pod, you know, the Jim Hamilton Andy Good, they were talking about this this week about him, like and Andy Good was really pushing that agenda that he's his stats are showing it, performance is showing it. You know, it you have to pick him for England, you've got to give him a chance, yeah. So we'll we'll see. Um no, the one I was gonna mention was Jake Woolmore. Yeah, Jake. Yes, because there was you know a bit of a disappointment that when Genji is announced he's got a simp a limp wrist or something like that. I can't he's the least limp wrist. It's a morals injury.
SPEAKER_07I know it is, but yeah, Genji's the least. A couple of weeks, buddy. Yeah, the least limp wristed man on earth.
SPEAKER_02I agree with Genji. The most limp wristed man on earth is sat opposite me. I mean, you know, d the advances in technology and physiotape, you can you can you can tape up a limp wrist, can't you?
SPEAKER_08Anyway, we have to assume that the medical staff got it right. Anyway, Jake Wilmore steps in and you know, he's a legend, isn't he? He's a legend. We had a the the scrum was rock solid. It was the only caveat to that was that he there was a turnover, wasn't it? Pollock did a turnover on their line, and then there was something said, and because it was off um Woolmore, he did put his copy book down. Tempo did 10 and then did another 10 because and actually on comms Austin Healy said he should have been carded for that. Yeah, and it and I think they kicked him in well into our half, didn't we? Do you know what I think? Because when he when he said it, the second thing going 10. Do you know then what he said to Tempo? He said, mate, I'll give you free and a yearly membership to SIVO well.
SPEAKER_10SIVO wellness, and you went get back.
SPEAKER_07No, he said no, but he didn't card him. He's like, Yeah, I that that was got that's what avoided the card. It was like he he he said something, and then he said of a year's membership.
SPEAKER_02Unless he said, Do you know how much I did test saunas, get back another 50 metres?
SPEAKER_08I can't see Tempo being a Sivo wellness sort of guy. I can't really know. No. What do you think Tempo What do you think his passion is?
SPEAKER_07I I I I think you know what? Pickleball. I was gonna say it's that sort of thing. It's something slightly weird and niche. Yeah, that's pretty good shape.
SPEAKER_02I don't know if it's not, it's like in sort of old Pokemon's old versions, old people's versions of Paddle, isn't it? Stamp connecting.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, pickleball. No, I just think maybe not that active, actually. You're right. Some stamp connecting, maybe not, but maybe like making models of things. Twitching. Yeah, maybe. What like the warcraft? Yeah, yeah. I don't think he's open-minded enough to go out into the countryside. I think he's just too scared. I could just see him living in some sort of two up, two down suburban house with like little sort of those little uh little um lace window with lace curtains and just just doing it.
SPEAKER_09He comes back after a game, it's like all right, Ian. Alright, love. How do you got your tea ready?
SPEAKER_07Do you think anyone calls him Ian? He's no, he's tempo. I think he's tempo for the old family. Anyway, uh so yeah, joke Walmart. I think we should you know.
SPEAKER_08And I think I think we'll we'll leave it. Well, we're gonna need him, yeah, definitely. Right, boys, we've done 43 minutes now. Um there was something I wanted to add in
Interviews from the Mixed Zone
SPEAKER_08to the pod, and uh which I think is gonna make the pod a little bit longer than perhaps we planned. But I should explain that as a lot of fans may know, during the week Bristol announced that they were going to introduce a post-match kind of NFL style mix-one thing. So where the players would be made available fairly soon after the game to speak to journalists and the media essentially, not just journalists, the media. And um and and in a kind of more informal like, you know, come into a room and just go and chat. And the idea being to sort of grow the game a bit, hear the voices of some players that don't get to say anything, and so the anyway. I saw some bloke on when it was announced, uh Ewan Cameron, uh Twitter follower. He said Bears Beyond the Gate should be in there. And you know what I did next day, I emailed. I emailed Will Carpenter and said, Can we be in there? Given the bat and I quoted back, you know, whatever he'd said about, you know, it's about fan engagement, it's about people learning stories. I was thinking, well, that's exactly where we did our sweet spot. And lo and behold, Will Carpenter got back to me on Friday and said, Yeah, mate, turn up at the media entrance after the game and we'll get you involved. So to cut a long story short, I got into the mix of noise. It was like what you do. And apparently I was on boys. I was on TNT in the background because they were filming it. Anyway, so I mean maybe it's a story for another time. It was quite exciting, and the the the actual mix zone itself was uh was right next to the change room. There was a there was an adjoining door because it was a kind of warm-up room curtain. Basically the players came through that door into where we were. It wasn't a big room, and of course, what was very exciting for me was that we were waiting for it to happen, and they all did the blackbird, and then it was like literally right next to me, and then they all come in. So I managed to grow oh I I didn't manage, I was actually welcome to brought some players to me. It was like extraordinary anyway. Yeah, I know I was well look, I was actually in a nice shirt and I jumper, and uh because I was on this stagdoo, I wasn't in all the colours, and I'd been very careful not to drink much to be fair, and I think I came across I come across sober. You did well. But the point is, I I thought, well, I basically I've clipped up all the interviews. Um I spoke to Jimmy, I spoke to Gabsibatoy, Jimmy Williams first, then Gabzi Batoy, uh then Joe Batley, um and then I did I was trying to talk to Adj, but it he then gone, but then I saw Adj in the car park and spoke to him and his brother, and then I also then at the end was able on my own, I was literally me and Pat left, and I said, Did you give us something for the fans? So Pat gave us a little bit of a chat. So I've basically stitched together all the audio. It's about 10 minutes, so I'm gonna play it now. So uh I'm here with uh Jimmy Williams, um fantastic game as normal. Um the only thing is when you hit the post on that conversion that would have taken us three scores ahead, and then they scored two tries afterwards. What were you thinking?
SPEAKER_06I was thinking please don't score another one because I think when you goal kick, if you win or lose by a point or two points, I well I always think if I'd kick that kick, then we would have won the game or would have lost the game, whatever it is. So but I mean, goal kicking, I didn't have a great day today off the tee, so it's just one of them, I guess. But I try not to overthink about it too much.
SPEAKER_08I mean, are you are you gonna be the the main man for the season? Do you think are you kind of sharing it?
SPEAKER_06I'd like to be. I mean, I I always enjoy goal kicking. Um and I mean if that's my job and I get given the tea, then I'll try and kick kick the goals.
SPEAKER_08Um and then obviously generally, I mean it was a fantastic game for fans to watch. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Um what's your thoughts on the game generally? Because it helps it flow quite a lot today. Yeah, the it was a funny start, like I missed that kick to touch, and then Finn went and did the same thing, and I thought, I don't think that's ever happened in a game. Um and then yeah, like defensively, I thought we were on today, like I could feel it in the warm up's class. Um I thought up breaking work was brilliant. Like really put McPahlen and like Smith under a lot of pressure, they didn't get quick ball. Um and then, like, especially when you're cleansing, is they're always gonna have a little purple patch, and I guess luckily we had that two try two-try sort of buffer. Um because it's very rare that a team will just like hang on momentum for like 20 minutes. So they had their little 10-minute purple punch, didn't they? And then we managed to sort of wrestle it back at the right time. They got a few yellows and then up it is.
SPEAKER_08Just the last one. I mean, yeah, it's tough as a few. How much just tell me the normal fun?
SPEAKER_09The sort of regular funny.
SPEAKER_06How much do you have to really, really focus and concentrate for the full meeting to get themselves? You've got to be on that. It's it's probably more than weak to be the amount of video that you watch. I was watching the video on the business just to like refresh my mind, the same pictures that are gonna come because it comes so quick. It's just like little cues, and then you come and just wing it. Um yeah, focus. Focus is probably the biggest thing in in our preseason that we've spoken about is like little moments that have cost us in the past. Um what we call them like moments of focus, so you're spot on. So you can hang on to it for probably 60 minutes of the game. And also with with rope people, we've been playing generally 35 to 40 minutes, so much as not even 80 minutes. You've just got to be on it. 35 minutes, and I always think that's that's uh an episode of like traitors or something. If I can sit and watch traitors and it looks like, oh, 40 minutes is gone. I can do it on the end.
SPEAKER_08You're a lamp from Windows, yeah, yeah, and you're playing in front of 20 plus thousand people. Did you hear the crowd? Do you actually hear the crowd? We sort of get going when you're about to score or when you're depending. Um I mean, you know, you need to leave.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, it's good. It's good. Boys are good. I mean, it's my fifth year now, and a lot of us have been here t together for five five years. So it does feel like a sort of little bit. I really appreciate the time, man. Good man.
SPEAKER_08So I'm uh I'm with Gabsy Batoy. Uh it's great to see you back fit again. It was a real blow for fans last season when you got injured, and I know it took a long time to come back. I mean, just give us your thoughts on that game because it was a it was a crazy game for fans to watch.
SPEAKER_05What did you think? What was it like on the pitch? Yeah, you could feel the energy, 20,000 plus Bristol fans, and uh it was amazing, and we all just fought for each other. That's what we said we're doing the week. Look after your the guy to the left and to the right and keep going.
SPEAKER_08We know that I mean we know what you can do in attack, but have you been working on other things over the summer of preseason? Because you know, you you you know you need to defend as well, and I thought you you know I thought you played really well today. You're solid in defence, uh, a few high balls.
SPEAKER_05I mean, do you like that part of the game? I wouldn't say it's my favourite, but I've got to do it. It's the it's in the it's in the job description. You see, if you watch all the games now, all the wingers are chasing hard, they're competing in the making tackles, they're making the breakdown of new since so I I have to do it. Um, and when when you feel the energy of the fans and the players, it gives me joy doing that stuff as well. So we've uh first game of the season, you went away to sale, won there, haven't done that for a while.
SPEAKER_08Second game of the season, being the reigning champions who came fully loaded.
SPEAKER_05Do we dare to hope as fairs fans, or is it a bit early? Two games in. Yeah, there's another 16 to go, we just gotta keep training hard. Um we we set the tone in the weekend in our trading sessions, it's tough, and then we try and replicate that on the weekend, which we have been doing the past two games, but again, 16 to go. I really appreciate the time. Thank you. Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_08So I'm here with the legend that is Joe Batley. You did full 80 today, didn't you? Yeah, it's either full 80 or nothing for me normally. We know that, we know you're a full-on man. I mean, I mean that's a fantastic win. I know you've beaten Northampton here the last couple of seasons, but this is beginning of the season, they come fully loaded. Just tell me kind of you know what you what you thought made the difference today.
SPEAKER_04Uh I mean, we didn't we didn't hide away from what happened last year, like it was definitely personal. Um like you just spoke about there. We've we've beaten them quite a few times at home, and they've always had like uh it's been an international break, we've not had everyone to our to our disposal, so we knew that they'll come with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, we have a chip on ours, and we had a clear, clear game plan. I I felt that if we got a load of set piece in the game that we would win it, and that that ended up being being the case. I was over the moon we scored the mall try early on, and then the way that our scrum slowly turned the screw. I mean, you don't need to give Zam, Gabs, TJ much of a of an into the game to get us get you five points or seven points. So yeah, it's been it's been fantastic.
SPEAKER_08On the on the um line out, yeah, you scored an early mall try, and then but in the first half you you went to the corner twice, but then you went off the top a couple of times rather than go for the mall. I was just wondering, we did notice that in the the stands. We were like, you know, what was the thinking behind that? Because I think you then coughed it up possession up afterwards, and we just wondered why you didn't just go for the mall three mall tries, given the rules have changed a little bit and potentially a bit easier to score.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I mean we we had we had a game plan. Um certain areas of the pitch were gonna do certain things. Um obviously, hindsight is 2020, and you go into um a game for feeling like your plan's gonna work 100%. And we um we we showed different pictures that we don't normally show. I mean, against sale the week before we did five or six more to score close to line and got the award, end of the game. This week we got the award, beginning of the game, and we had a few opportunities later on, and we gave away a free kick for for obstruction. So, yeah, I mean you you roll the dice every time, like when you have a plan. Um what I will say is the way that we we stuck at it and we caped in their 22, we then end up with the result uh later on. So yeah, it was um it was fantastic, and we're we're looking forward to like the next job being Sarry's away, which is which is a huge challenge for us. Yeah, so we've we have not oh I can't remember the last time we've won their way. I've never done it personally.
SPEAKER_08So I don't think Bristol ever won at the Stone X.
SPEAKER_04Well, there we go. So that that's another chip on our shoulder we can we can get after, and um yeah, it's uh we'll enjoy we'll enjoy today for tonight and then come tomorrow. All eyes will be on to uh Saracen's. Make history next week, mate. Make history. That's it. Thank you. No worries, my friend.
SPEAKER_08So I'm uh I'm outside the landstand with Adj. Adj McGinty, as he's known, properly known. So, mate, two games in, you're fit as a fiddle. Uh that was a fantastic win today, wasn't it? Uh your thoughts on the game?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like you said, brilliant win. I think geez, we we fronted up like physically, um, and the first half was back and for it. We had we had loads of opportunities to put some points in there, and they they sort of kept kept us out of the get from getting over the try line. So, really, really good battle in that first half. And obviously, we lose BB then, and then they could we can see going into halftime and then um yeah, going at halftime with a point, and I thought we came out of the came out of the blocks really fast. So, listen, we we it's it's it's a funny one because you obviously have a you're really happy in pre-season, but you don't know where you're at, and to go away to sale and get five points and then to face something happened there and how how sharp they were last week, and you know, it was it was back and forth, sort of like test test match style, so really pleasing for the for the group.
SPEAKER_09Is it fair to say that fans have sensed a more pragmatic game plan?
SPEAKER_08You seem there was really good tactical kicking in the first half, pushing them back a bit. Is that a new thing or is that something that we've just missed?
SPEAKER_00No, yeah, no, I think obviously listen, we obviously pride ourselves on sort of like keeping the ball and stretching teams with the ball. And I listen, there's there's times today where they have sort of one man in the backfield, and a lot of the times we're set up to run and and rans pick pick some good corners. So um maybe yeah, if so on some occasions bit uh like be be more pro pragmatic. I think you know in the in the preseason games, it was one of those things where anytime we were kicked the ball deep, we actually didn't concede any tries, you know. Normally we might put ourselves under a bit of pressure from playing deep from our half. Uh and and we haven't really got that, but today that we actually did. We we turned we coughed up the ball quite cheaply against them, and and they punished us. So it's one to look at that it was on to run when when we took the opportunity, but we just didn't execute, um, and then we put ourselves under a bit of pressure. But I think uh overall, listen, the the the pack were were phenomenal, sort of set piece dominance and and the tackles and and and the backs as well, sort of like finishing off some good tries, so a real uh well-rounded performance. You got your family here, you got your kids around, and then you got your brother here as well. He's over here. He actually did he he didn't he didn't get any games last year. So yeah, but he was allegedly I wasn't playing.
SPEAKER_11He allegedly was gonna come. Oh, of this recorder, he asked me about your kicking, and then he didn't have the bravery to ask him face to face.
SPEAKER_09I got a proper that after that.
SPEAKER_07Oh, everyone misses the odd game that they didn't bring the tea on for you that the next time was it your time?
SPEAKER_00It was Jimmy. To be fair, Jimmy's kicking well, it's probably for for it's what what's best for the team, and at the moment it's best for the team that Jimmy kicks, so I need I need probably another two two weeks of proper grind with the with the kicking and and pensing some things out, and yeah, like Jimmy did it. I'd like to be kicking.
SPEAKER_08He did it the post twice though, Jimmy, didn't he? So he's got stuff to work on as well.
SPEAKER_11We had a competition from left of that post, yeah. They'd be there all night.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, you've got to get it through. But hey mate, look, I really appreciate it, and uh thanks for that.
SPEAKER_11Good to see you again. Good to see you, thanks. Got a message for Bears fans? And played them. He coaches them so with a game in the summer, and a load of them came over and played us. Had a good couple of days in Dublin with them. So the more we win, the more we're gonna see you. Yeah, well, I coach the 20s in our club. We've come over and played Bristol University twice, and this year Frampton Cotterall came over, so we're we're trying those Black Rock Bristol Lynx. Brilliant.
SPEAKER_08Great Peter. Quick, just a quick message to the fans after today from you about how the season started. It's obviously a fantastic result.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, again, to all our fans in the stadium and all the fans around the world and around the country, you know, we just again thank you. Thank you for your passion. Um, you know, I think that's the key. And I love everyone's comments, I don't mind positive or negative because at the end of the day, that that means you're passionate about the team, you want the team to succeed, you want the team to get there. And um, so I really appreciate just the fact if if no one's talking about us, that means there's no passion. I'm what Bristolians always have, and uh, and the supporters of the Bears, they're extremely passionate. I get a lot of people worrying about are you worried about what people say? And I said, No, no, because I it's the same with the players when I give them feedback, I'm giving them honest feedback. And uh I see, can you handle it? Yeah, but I said we start worrying when I give you no feedback because then that means I don't care anymore, it means you don't care. So I love the passion of our supporters, and so we have worked hard this preseason, and you can obviously see that. And um you know, two games which I knew a lot of people would struggle, including our fans, that we would struggle for 22 years to win five points last week, and
Discussion about said interviews
SPEAKER_01then defending champions. Um, and I know that uh now we've got to go to a place where never won and sell our.
SPEAKER_07I was gonna say you got a plan.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well it's the toughest start since I've been here. Um, but I love that because we embraced it right at the very beginning, and it actually tied in really nicely because I had I watched that game, but I've never watched the game or five times in a row uh in that Northampton game last year. Um I know we corre but the fact that we corrected it the next week in one shows our systems work attack, defence. But I watched that game and what I saw there I built the preseason on, and um so far they're getting great evidence of that work.
SPEAKER_08Great stuff. Thank you very much. So there you go, boys. That was my uh my very, very uh gentle entry into NFL style media.
SPEAKER_10I loved it. So it's really first of all, I'd say that I think our listeners will forgive us for an extra ten minutes on this week's pod because that was that was uh that was cold, mate. That was gold, guys. We learned a few things that we the whole point of it, wasn't it? To learn a few things about players that you don't get out of. Absolutely. First thing for me that that I mean, because he was first uh cab off the rank was Al Damesworth, Big Jimmy Williams, is I mean brilliant, lovely guy. We thought that anyway, didn't we? But but what a I mean, just a genuine character.
SPEAKER_08It was so funny he was like, he was so nice. I was like he made it really easy. It was like um you know, he just and and I just thought well I learned a few things. I hadn't realised he'd been here five years. I mean it makes sense when I think about it, but he's been around the he's been here a while, hasn't he? Yeah, he wants that kicking job ad as well. But he also was respectful that he knew he had a he he was disappointed with his performance and knows he's got a practice. Um it's not acceptable. I mean, you know, and also Callum Sheedy's not that happy with him either, is he?
SPEAKER_10Because it's Callum Sheedy's the poster role to have he's the poster model. I know. But also what I loved about that as well, how honest Gabs was. Don't like being under the eyeball, well, none of us would. Don't really like tackling, but we have to do it. I've got to do it. But that's what that's why we love these players, because I mean, like you say, he could have he could have done the media spin on you and said, Oh, it's part of the game and we'll get stuck in and uh I was a bit when I said to him um have you been what we've been working on over preseason, uh in other words, tackling.
SPEAKER_08I did think I did think oh that might sound a bit rude that like I'm implying that he he's not very good at it. And um you know we haven't debated him and he is good at it, you know, he's a he's a proper pro. But I just I just actually what I liked about that was that he came across he's a serious yeah like a serious guy, you know. He's trying. He's um but yeah, he's I really I really appreciated him being like that. And um and then his family trush to the kids and his brother was there, so Aj is brother, those people that made there was another voice came in, that's his brother, who we know a bit, and um he was he took the Mickey out of me because I'd said off before we started recording, oh yeah, Adj what that was a terrible miss at sale, and he's been sacked from the job.
SPEAKER_07Ah, like that. And then I kind of bottled it when I said it, and he came in and said, You were telling you bottled it, you tell him Adj like that.
SPEAKER_08So yeah, I mean, Adge, I found out that you know he he coaches Blackrock Academy as well as play for Bears, and that links into what we learnt last week about you know, um well, actually it was on a podcast, wasn't it? Was when uh I I sent you that Mall or Nothing podcast with when B V was on it with um um with Tom Jordan is that the Aj there are three players who are cap you know the leadership behind the scenes who basically run the show, and that's Aj, Stevie, and Genji. So that was quite interesting, and then um Joe Batley. Bats was battery. That was brilliant. I mean he was quite funny actually. He's so nice. I was doing I think I was interviewing Gabs, and then I finished and Bats, and he looks at me and goes, What are you doing here?
SPEAKER_09Like that.
SPEAKER_08I was like, then Will Carpenter, fair play said, Oh, he's got media accreditation. Bats, bats like, okay, sorry.
SPEAKER_09Put him back, put him put him back down.
SPEAKER_08I put Bats back in the box.
SPEAKER_10He's just uh the nicest gentleman, isn't he? You know, for a rugby player, what they do on the pitch. And he does it for eight.
SPEAKER_08It's like he said, he's either eighty or nothing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and that is fairly nothing, yeah. Absolutely. I think the engagement is absolute class, really. I mean, you know, you were lucky enough to get into the sort of media section, but the fact they just talk to anyone and that's been that's been encouraged by Pat. I think is just I'm gonna doff my cap to the Bears and Pat for this leadership, and actually I think that's what we wanted for seasons after seasons, isn't it? Some engagement with fans. I mean, if you're not gonna play for the fans, there's no point playing. And and I think a massive tick.
SPEAKER_08Loved it. The other thing that was funny, when I did the Pat one and I said just give us a mesh of fans, Pat alluded to the fact that there are sometimes positive and negative comments, and he doesn't mind that because he'd rather there were comments either way than leg at all. Because it shows this passion. And I should have, I was like thinking, I know he's talking about Lee.
SPEAKER_07I should have said, Oh what? Are you talking about that time where where Lee slagged you off in that like post article and you wanted to know where Lee? And I thought, yeah, look, maybe that's right.
SPEAKER_10I didn't slag him off either. We wanted clarification. Yeah, you're right.
SPEAKER_02I'm surprised you didn't ask him. Have you lifted the uh the patwa? I'm Lee.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, I should have said, oh the patwa.
SPEAKER_02Oh, you're right, boys. I think I think that might have been over his head on that occasion.
SPEAKER_08But anyway, so and and I quite like the fact that Pat was like, Thank you for you. You know, he's gonna say that, but you know, I think they thanked us for our patience as fans. I mean we've been patient, very, very but but we've really started the tip the season strongly, and I think it's um clearly they have had a like everything, they really thought about talking to what happened, and you know, we are playing a slightly more pragmatic game. We didn't really mention it in our review, but I just think the kicking was more on point, and you know, we we were kicking ourselves out of pressure rather than taking risks in the wrong places. So I think fair play, we said this last week, I think fair play to the the the coaching stuff. I mean again we were up for it and prepared, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think because we were on the front foot we didn't need it, but there's been two games now where we I think we've it's been the end of needless just chucking it around. But you know, w we'll see. We've talked about plan A, B, and C, but it's been so encouraging. There's been direct forward sort of passing and attack by the fronts, uh the forward, sorry. Um yeah, let's uh let's I mean so it just carries on.
SPEAKER_10That's like Gab said that I mean we're two games in and 16 together. It was a long, long, long.
SPEAKER_08But I knew that when I said that, it's like dare to hope. And I'm like, why am I saying this?
SPEAKER_02You look at the two first fixtures, first two fixtures.
SPEAKER_10I mean, we're Cocker Hoopers fans, aren't we?
SPEAKER_02Well we never thought we'd get two wins out of two against those those two games.
SPEAKER_08But it will come down to you know, injuries, people who step up, are they are they gonna be a bit? And you know, the the omens have started well. Yes. It's really
Sarries preview
SPEAKER_08I mean actually on that note Sarah is away. That's exactly what I was gonna say. You know what? You know, in Harry Potter when the Death Eaters have come, you get that all that kind of that's exactly what I just felt just come through that room. However, they lost today. They did. Which is is that a good thing because they've got another home game and they've got a chance to put it right.
SPEAKER_10Do you know what I did? I watched that game today and I and I thought Cell were a million times better than they were against us. Um but again Cell fronted up against Sarys. And on the basis of our first two games, you think we go along the same lines I thought. I mean I'm touching wood as I'm saying this. I feel probably more confident going into this Saris game this week than I ever have of us getting a victory out. Because it's we've never done it in a week.
SPEAKER_08I mean it's it's got we've got to make history.
SPEAKER_10At some point we need to win.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, we've got to make history. So yeah, it's gonna happen. So why not? Why not? So on that note, boys, um a couple of questions. Rather than naming our predicted team, what do you is there any fit? Who's what do you think, Miles, would be some general players that can we who might cut who if everyone apart from B V, obviously, no one else seemed to pick up any sort of injury yesterday.
SPEAKER_02I don't think so. So I think um I mean we know Genji's suggested these out for a couple of weeks ago. So let's assume he's not the playing on that plastic pitch ain't gonna be good for his business. Not particularly, no. So let's assume the front row is gonna remain as it is, which was um Ogrey. There's no need to change. Bats was chipper, I mean he didn't look injured when I was talking to him. Not really. Um so it's just it's just going into the backs. Although he accidentally stepped on his toe. Sorry, he's he's hard as now. It's going into the backs. I do not know where we're going with this. We only had uh two backs on the bench, one came on at half time. Um I think we were chatting about this pre-pod. We're gonna have to bring in uh you know a high performing academy player into the back.
SPEAKER_08Or Toby Wilson, remember, he's not academy, he's a full flung tick, but he's a what if you featured once in the Prem Cup. He played against Exeter, but I mean I don't think he's in because it's just not because he's he's just doesn't quite fit. But I think now we've got a we need a choice. We can either will will he risk will Pat risk playing Lewis Free Sam at a fullback at Sarri's? I don't know. It's a difficult one, isn't it? Because he did play quite well.
SPEAKER_02Do you think it'd start Pepper on the wing?
SPEAKER_08No, well this is it, but then who knows? But uh Pepper came on and played well. Well yeah, he did.
SPEAKER_10Do you know what? I mean he could yeah, I mean you could play Jordan in the centre, couldn't you? I think Jordan's gonna play 30 and he has to be the only option we've got, yeah. Yeah, and then you play I think you have to play Luz recycle. I think he will fall back. I think he will Pepper on the wing, yeah.
SPEAKER_08And then maybe we'll bring in another on the 23, there'll be another, like you know, another sort of hybrid East Strike, you know, Marmion or Randall. I mean, I assume Randall will start to be honest. It looks like he's got the number one back, and Marmion will be um be on the bench for sure, who can also do a job on the wing if necessary?
SPEAKER_02Um I don't know who will come in as the um the second back and you know on the bench, I'm not sure. There were some you know some great Academy players. I mean your mate Oli Harris and Victor Wersnip. I mean they were great performers.
SPEAKER_08There's a big shout for you. Is Victor Wersnip ready to go play 13 against Saracens so that we can keep Jordan at fullback? And there's a precedent. Do you know what the precedent for that is? I remember when Joe Jenkins played 13 as an academy against Saracens and played really well. I mean we lost, but he played ri he didn't look out of place, and I there is a precedent. Is Victor Wersnip ready? Well it's a big call. One thing I would say if he is ready, Pat would play him. Yeah, well that's it. Because I don't think there'd be any doubt. And he does like him because he talked about him in preseason a bit. So that would be a massive left field shout. Yeah. Worstnip at 13, so you can maintain Jordan fullback who looks comfortable there, I've got to say. Lewis ReSamit on the wing, yeah, where we know that he is you know he scored two tries on the wing.
SPEAKER_02Keep Marmion and Pepper on the bench.
SPEAKER_08Marmion and Pepper on the bench. Ooh, all of the things. Oh, it'd be interesting. That's our big debate. The big debate. We should have that every week. The big debate, worse or not.
SPEAKER_10Be interesting to see what listeners think because you know, we could have a couple of left fields because our listeners are much more knowledgeable than we are. So you know some of them are. There may be some more left fields.
SPEAKER_08We know that um, you know, some of the players listen, so that's for sure. Um okay, the other big debate, and the one that I got right, wasn't it last week that I said I thought Stevie might start. Yeah. They brought oh, I've got to say that I saw even a Vishvili leaving the ground yesterday, and he was in that, he was in like a you know those cars that are kind of sporty, sort of button who've got really low seats, and he was sat in there with one of his mates who looked like another children.
SPEAKER_07No, just like a kind of BMW, but like the sort of thing you see in uh uh you know, sort of not the ones that kind of coast slowly down the street when you've got your with your elbow on the window, and it was just it's like gangster sort of car, it was just like that. It was like it was brilliant, and he was coming out, there was a little load of people there, and he was and he was just he was looking very pleased with himself with his elbow like on the window, and he had his like mate that looked just like him sat in there, and they had low, they had the low racing seats, it was brilliant. Well, he's quite tall, isn't he? The roof otherwise, yeah.
SPEAKER_08So I mean he came on as an impact sub. I I it's I think it's I think Saracen's is such a difficult place to play that I think we need experience to start that. I think Stevie will start again unless he's Stevie's on a one one at every other game contract. But I think Stevie, I think will start a six. Fitzy obviously. So but I just think it you what happened last year because I went was that they got off to such a quick start, yeah, and we didn't we were like we were it the game had gone, and I think you need someone like Stevie who can just slow it down and just do his thing. So I think maybe Stevie again, and then Joe Owen again, George Taylor on the bench.
SPEAKER_10There's no reason why not. No, no, but Joe Owen had a hand injury, didn't he? We don't know how bad that was, yeah, no, so potentially he could be a miss.
SPEAKER_08I mean, I think Lovejoy, I I I he's already greasing his legs, he's expect he's expecting to be on the bench, isn't he? Yeah, yeah, and uh and tomos came on again, so he got a bit of game time, yeah. And I mean, you know, the more game time these boys get at least against the big clubs and the and go into the big grounds, then the better it is for us.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, I think well it's an athletics pitch, big ground, but yeah, well tough, tough gig.
SPEAKER_08It's a big ground in the sense yeah, you're miles away from the touchline on one side. But yeah, well boys, that's uh well that's that. And then well let's see, what do you think, Lee? What's your prediction? I think we're only gonna win.
SPEAKER_10You go in against you? You have to at some point. I genuinely think we're gonna win.
SPEAKER_02At some point, yeah, we're in the ascendancy. I mean, you know, it's only been two games, but you know, like I said, I wouldn't have predicted two five-point wins back to back. And I think if it's the time to take Sarry's It is the time to take them. They are they're not, you know, there's some there's some sort of odd things going on with the coaching, isn't there? Yeah, it's did you read that?
SPEAKER_08I think well, all that, you know, with Brendan Vanderler and Brendan Vendor and refusing to come on media, it's very odd. I saw he did an interview with Flats though, so they're not well he had to. Yeah, it's a job. Are you right? I think they are then.
SPEAKER_02It's not they're going through a transition of uh you know DORs, it's it's the time to take them. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_10Elliot Daly's getting on a bit. By the way, that that kit is shocking as well. But um I'm gonna go 2418, boys. If you're asking me for a prediction, I am 2418, Miles 28 2820 to Bristol.
SPEAKER_08Yep. You know what? I'm with you. I mean why I think this is there are times where I'd say no, we ain't got a chance, but actually I think we've got a chance, and it is gonna be tight. It depends on lots of things, how fast we start, whether the bench does the job. Oh that's it. But I'm gonna say it the pitch, is it a high scoring pitch? It is for them quite a lot of time. I'm gonna I'm gonna go with you boys. I I'm gonna stay in the 20s, I think 23 14.
SPEAKER_10Positive.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, why not? Why not? Why not? You know, because it's I think you're right, I think it's there for taking. So anyway, we'll see. And then finally,
Shout outs
SPEAKER_08finally, shout-outs. Because we like to do the shout out. I think there's a lot of things to do the shout-outs at the end. So a couple of quick shout-outs. Um, well, first of all, I'd like to shout out to the lady on reception. Oh sorry, that's all right. That was my mate jumping up and down. The lady on reception at the media reception, when I went to sort of say, Oh, I'm she's like, What are you? I said, Oh, I do a pod. She said, Not Bearsby on the gate. She listened to you!
SPEAKER_09She said, I said, I'm Pete, and she and she said, 'Oh, and it's Leah Miles, isn't it?' I was like, Yeah, so she listened. So I was like, all these big dogs, the big dog media, she's ignoring them being all touchy because they didn't know what's going on.
SPEAKER_08She's like, Can you wear it over there, please? I'm talking to him. So I wanted to mention her, so she was lovely. It's um I took a photo of her pass so I wouldn't forget it. Of her what? Of her past. Yeah. So it's Lee Lee Hexed, safety officer.
SPEAKER_03Oh.
SPEAKER_08Lovely, lovely. And so Lee, thanks very much. Thanks very much. Making me feel like I wasn't because I had a bit of imposter syndrome, to be fair, to start with. But actually, after talking to you, I felt no, I've got the right to be.
SPEAKER_09You sound like you were the big dog at the end. I was the I was the big dog.
SPEAKER_08She was ignoring like the bloke from the telegraph and the bloke from the Reddy Paper. Yeah, can you be a bit quiet over there, please? I'm trying to talk to her. So that's my first shout out. Second shout out is to um he says very quickly, getting oh Dan Masters. Oh, yes. I want to shout out to Dan Masters because Dan, we we know we we um Spaniel Masters is of course. But there's he actually sent us a message on Instagram. He said uh hi guys, what a bloody game said hello to Miles in the BFF. No what he had no idea who I was I'd uh I'd had a few points by then. My three words for today, Harry effing Randall. Big Randall.
SPEAKER_10Is that Harry Randall said, is it?
SPEAKER_08No, yeah, effing. Nuff said, spell N U F F, which is always good. Back to his pre-England best, come on you bears, love the pod. So I replied, said, I brackets Pete know exactly who you are. Thanks for the message, Rands and others showing their class against exalted opposition and knocking heavily on Steve Borthwick's door.
SPEAKER_10And to be fair so sorry, Randall. To be fair, Dan Miles doesn't even know me and Pete are most of the time after a couple of pints.
SPEAKER_08So that was Dan. Um another shout out. We got regulars, but I don't mind the regulars. So of course, yeah, your hammy, your hammy hambleys, your Robin Hambleys, your your debs from K-town, your JP Holdens. They're the backbone of the boss, your Holdens, your Hambleys, you know, your Debs. Oh, before I do that, Tom Partridge. He's often sends us messages. Tom Partridge has said, Learnings from yesterday, colon. One, goal kicking needs work, the end.
SPEAKER_03He's true.
SPEAKER_08Um and where we've got we've got um so we've got uh music life. So that's Debs from K-Tan. Uh anyone else notice Bat's glance up to the south stand when the team did pre-game run-in before kickoff, like he was enjoying the energy and taking it all in. And I did ask them that in the mix in about the crowd, and I said, and they do, you know, Gab said he, you know, the energy, and it was there in the crowd. I said, you know, we do only really shout when you're about to score or about to defend it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you know, they do hear it, so fair play. Um, so here we go. Robin Handley. Here he comes in. He's come in. So you ready for the for this boys? Go for it. It's two words grit and determination, the Bears bought the fight. Over Saints they roared, what a glorious sight. Offloads and tries, the gate crowd in full voice, dominating the champions, what a cracking choice. Saints came to Bristol expecting a feast, turned out the bears with a real beast, attacking with flair, defence standing tall, Reese Zammit flying too quick for them all, two wins from two. Now that's how you start. Yeah, good start. Good start. Lee that's a first clever because he put a little clue in the last one, didn't he? Yeah, really good stuff, really good stuff. Yeah, I like that. Um, what else we got? Um, we've also got um JP Holden, who is a regular poet, has been you know, he's is he's vying for laureate ship. He has got the best poet names and style, yeah. J and he's and he's done a he did a haiku, which I didn't spot.
SPEAKER_10Did he ever get back to you? Because you said some of his work could be AI. Uh I don't know. Did he ever get back to you on that?
SPEAKER_03Did I say that?
SPEAKER_10You did say that, yeah. I don't think so.
SPEAKER_08Well, I'm sorry. But here we go. He said well, he actually had to qualify this when he said through the Avon mist, through the Avon mists burned a dazzling sun, raised in a shadowy principality, a lightning brace, and the game was won. A consumate display of lethality, but not just in attack, was his race run showcasing a new defensive mentality, a cracking day at AG three. And then he had to reply and say, Whoops, BS three. So it was a high level.
SPEAKER_09That could have been the bus he would do, AG three. Haven't heard from our councillor Steve Smith. Ex-Councellor Steve Smith.
SPEAKER_08He said, Um, for the first time ever at a Bristol Bears game, I could get a drink in a busy dolman stand without massive cues. Well played. Miles wants to talk about this after. Well played, Ashton Gate. Thank you. Good. And then um, and then we had Rachel, of course. Pierce. Rachel Pierce, she always sends it on. She sent us uh her acrostic, and very quickly, because I said I'd read it out, here it comes. She said, Afternoon, boys, here's my acrostic. Oh dear. I can't okay. You can't say it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ready, ready. Relished the Ashton Gate battle under Fitz captaincy. The pack stood up to the champions, back line brilliance allowed, Randall to snipe over for a try, inspiring performance in the engine room, Ogre and Zamik crossed early as the Bears took control, locked down the defence, and provided strong physicality all afternoon. Outstanding 41-26 victory to cap off a well-deserved and unexpected home win. I think I got it. Yep. Rubiolo Rubiolo.
SPEAKER_10Oh well done. Well done, mate.
SPEAKER_08I was lost. So there's your shout-outs. I think that I've done them. Apologies if I've forgotten any. Miles,
Goat/Anti Goat
SPEAKER_08talk about the beers then. Or or lack of cues. I'm gonna give positives and negatives. What do we? It's an it's an anti-goat. What's the opposite of a goat? Well, you've got a goat. I have. So I've got an anti-goat. I don't know, you're right. What is the opposite of a goat? It gets my goat is annoyed. It's a toke. No, but it's like a phrase. If it if it gets my goat, it's an annoying thing. What do you say when you love something? Anyway, we'll just go to the show.
SPEAKER_02So So obviously we've got season tickets in the dolment, and I thought I would corroborate that the fact there were no cues at half time to get a beer. And that was because? Well, I think it's a combination of there's a lot of people coming around, serving beer, pasties, the mobile sort of vendors, as it were, the Amazon, which is quite good. The Amazon tappen thing. Tappen thing, where to tap and go, get your beer.
SPEAKER_08The internet of things.
SPEAKER_02Wait, wait, wait.
SPEAKER_10There is a butt. What the the Amazon, what what does that mean? It's the thing we're not reading.
SPEAKER_02It used to be a shop. We used to go in Amazon, didn't you? Um and I talk about the beers, actually.
SPEAKER_08No, you you you put you go in and it scans your car, your your phone, your account, and then it you pick up whatever you buy and it automatically pays for it. What so you pre- you pre-buy it? No, no, only on the way in. You go through it. I haven't done it on the way in. You tap your card or you tap your phone on the through some like turnstile type thing.
SPEAKER_02It's clever tech. I don't know how it works.
SPEAKER_08You then pick up food whatever, drink beers are already poured. It's like a you know, and then you just exit out of with your stuff and it automatically knows what you've bought and it charges you, so there's no it's a seamless there is no there's there's no human interaction.
SPEAKER_02This is where we put it. I didn't do it because I was in the Prava lounge. You're right. So the so the good side is there's there's no there were no cues. You know, we come down of E30 and there's huge cues at half time, and you you know, and you missed you you missed the start of the second half. However, I decided I didn't want Prava, Thatcher's organisms. That's the only downside. So I went over to the back of the dolmen, and there were human beings serving beer quite quickly to find that I could get a nice pint of Thatcher's Brava Organis. Oh, so the same option exactly the same, and I now do not think you can get a pint of IPA, ale in old man's terms, in the dolmen. Someone's got to pay for it. However, no, you're right. No, that I take that back. The can top bar. Oh, is that still there? That's still going, that's probably the only place you can get some ale. So I I found that there were there weren't this, there wasn't this vast cue of people trying to get to the loo and get to the bars. So a big tick there, they've got that sorted, but I think somewhere in the Dolwan, we'd quite like a pint of ale.
SPEAKER_08Needs a bit of tweaking, a bit of tweaking. Yeah, but someone's got to pay for it, and I imagine Prava's pumping a lot of money, pumping a lot of money, and you can't argue if they are.
SPEAKER_02No, so we might be going back to the sort of Bistle Beer factory kiosk for a half to a little bit. I'll tell you what I missed.
SPEAKER_08And I because I'd gone up to the the um Prava Lounge, did they have the Prava band? You know, they had that last year. They kind of were they were all on stilts and they were doing I love that. Believe it or not, I was in too early. Yeah, maybe we went early. Maybe we missed that. Um my my goat was one of the uh things because I was on the stagdo, and we'd already bought tickets for the um Brava Lounge. I've mentioned Brava about a million times, haven't they, in the last which is exactly what they want. We're not being sponsored by them, are we? Or are you being sponsored by the people? We're not inertia by them, Pete.
SPEAKER_02But um none of that nonsense in this.
SPEAKER_08I then wanted to forward my seat to your mate Miles's well, it's a dad of one of Miles' son's mates, complicated thing. And I tried to do it through my phone, and it was it was it was quite difficult because I then had to set him up as a friend, and then it was pending, and then it just never happened, and it was just it just seemed way too difficult to forward my ticket to someone who wanted to go, um, who I didn't know, but he he reckoned that he did have a membership account, so it wasn't like he was a total anyway. All I would say is that it was very difficult, and then I I tried to ring on Saturday morning and it wasn't open. I was as as I explained very rushed. Should be open, I think, up to two hours before game day. Well, I ran no, I rang it and it said the hours of Monday to Friday. Anyway, the bottom line is we got in, we found I did actually end up downloading a PDF off my account, which was my kind of season, but it said it said Bristol Bears against Northampton Prem Cup on the PDF.
SPEAKER_02Shouldn't have been that should not have been that complicated.
SPEAKER_08The point is is that you're right, it got we got there in the end, but it was way too complicated, and it took at least two minutes of my life expectancy.
SPEAKER_02I think I'll add to that that whole week leading up to the game, people's electronic season ticket hadn't been updated since the Prem Cup game, and they were quite worried that they could not get into the game. Some person said just download it again from the original email, and I did that, and it was fine. Again, it's just unnecessary stress. They were ringing up supporter services who were saying it'll be fine, put something out on socials, corrupt saying that it'll be fine. So there was slight, some slight ticket sort of um cock-ups this week that were adding unnecessary stress.
SPEAKER_08We should counteract that by saying I thought it was such a good Ashton Gate did a great job on Saturday, broadly speaking. I thought it was a really good atmosphere, a good crowd. It was good they they had tweaks, they had tweaks. They had a mu they had someone doing music in the Lansdown as well as the sports bar, so there was a bit of banter I think.
SPEAKER_02Did you were you there early enough to realise that they'd moved the Bears Den QA?
SPEAKER_08No.
SPEAKER_02Under the Lansdown. So um Steve Lansdale, obviously, uh very generous. Makes sense. I I I I mean, I don't mind where it is, um, but yeah. But now if if anyone didn't know, don't go under the South Stand, it is no longer there. Um so you know, Steve Lansdale did it, it was a great QA. Brilliant. I couldn't hear, unfortunately. I was chatting to some friends.
SPEAKER_08In fact, that reminds me because we Steve Lansdale said he would talk to Bears Beyond the Gate two seasons ago, didn't he? Or a season ago, because someone said I need to get onto that, don't I? Now I'm like in the mix zone. Well, next home game.
SPEAKER_10How long's he around for?
SPEAKER_08We have to pop back to Guernsey every for various reasons, doesn't he?
SPEAKER_07We don't quite know how often he's around, yeah.
SPEAKER_08But uh only I think only Pat's got his like personal uh travel schedule, so we'll we'll maybe well I'm sure he loves to come to every home game. Why not? Why wouldn't you? I would if I was him. So I imagine he'll be here for Exeter and then Tigers on the Friday night. So, right, boys, we're rambling a bit now, which is fine because we had an extra thing to put in.
SPEAKER_10Of course, I'm um I mean we're the top top three of the league. So yeah, we enjoy it. We're enjoying it. Why not?
SPEAKER_08Yeah. So is there anything else we want to say before we leave? Is there anything we've forgotten that we should that fans might be saying, why didn't you mention that? I can't I can't think of anything. Undoubtedly, it will come to me after we stop. So let's just it's always the way. It's always the way. Well, let's on a note then. We've got a big, big game coming up. You know, we've got it could be a big game. We've all gone positive.
SPEAKER_02Well, yeah, so next Saturday, 5 30 kickoff. Something like that. I think 5 30 kickoff away at Saracen on that horrendous pitch.
SPEAKER_08And it's it's a history-making game. So, boys, well done. We really appreciate all your efforts and have a good week of training. Don't normally address the team, do I? At the end, it's a lot of the fans, but also the fans. You can all say stay stay safe for players this week. I'm hoping that we might have five new listeners this week: Jimmy Williams, Hadge, Joe Batley, yeah, Gabby B Toy, and Pat. So on you know, I'm talking directly to you five. Work hard this week, and uh and then the rest of us stay safe, have a good week, and one, two, three, up
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